Good morning, and let me introduce you to the Summer of Mystery! Please begin your journey with Tom’s short film (shot during our visit to Margery Allingham country a few months ago)
So what does this club involve? There’s a new collection of KDD patterns, of course, and you’ll receive fortnightly releases of lightweight, seasonal knits, each inspired by the golden age of detective fiction (which was also, of course, the golden age of modernist fashion, Art Deco style and an era of ground-changing innovation in many areas of technology and design). My new collection is split evenly between smaller and larger projects (garments and accessories), all knitted in Milarrochy Tweed with the odd surprise along the way. There are eleven patterns in total (including a mystery shawl).
Based on the plot of Margery Allingham’s gripping thriller, Hide My Eyes, our mystery knitalong takes the form of a thrilling series of bus journeys that criss cross London from Bayswater and the Harrow Road through the West End theatre district, and east to the Regent’s canal basin and the dockside.
There are four clues in this mystery knit, each named for four different characters. Following the plot and geography of Hide my Eyes, each clue will take our knitting in a different (and somewhat mysterious) direction, exploring different construction methods and techniques. The shawl uses five different shades of fingering weight yarn, and each clue involves all of these five shades.Â
Knitting and detective fiction (particularly that of the “golden age”) are two of my great loves, and for a long time now I’ve been thinking what fun it would be to bring them both together, in a bookclub. So please join us as we read 10 classic Margery Allingham novels together. The titles on our reading list are widely (and very cheaply) available in many different formats, from second-hand paperbacks to audiobooks. To guide your reading, every fortnight, as a new mystery is introduced, you’ll receive an exclusive newsletter with a short introduction to the book, together with points for consideration (which you may wish to explore individually as you read, or collectively in discussion with other club members).
I’m also thrilled, for this club, to bring on board a group of brilliant women who, just like me, are Margery Allingham superfans. Each of our guest contributors is an acclaimed author, whose talents range from podcasting to fashion journalism, from biography to crime fiction. Every fortnight, in-between our pattern releases, there’ll be a new long read, exploring a wide range of exciting topics from knitting and couture in golden age detective fiction to Margery Allingham’s own creative passion for making her own clothes.
Our knitting, and our reading, will absorb us for four months, until, when all has been revealed, the Summer of Mystery book will be published in September. This full-colour, beautifully produced print book includes all the patterns and long reads, and it can be shipped to you, anywhere in the world. If you don’t enjoy print, a digital club membership is also available.
And there’s more! Your Summer of Mystery club membership also includes:
*Access to our lively and supportive discussion group
*10% club member discount off everything in the KDD shop (including MKAL yarn packs). (Access to club pricing begins on April 23rd, and ends at the conclusion of the club, in September)
*Members-only bonuses and surprises. This is a mystery club after all!
The whole KDD team is very excited about this project, which has already transported us from the mysterious Essex Marshes, to the foggy streets of post-war London. Would you like to join us as we explore the wonderful world of Margery Allingham, together?
Club sign ups are open now and will close on April 21st.
(Immediately after signing up, you’ll receive our club welcome pack, which includes a reading list and all the information you need to prepare for the MKAL)
I thought I read somewhere about a paypal payment option – but cant find it.
Please reply to sogalitno@gmail.com
thank you!
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help…I signed up but my payment did not go through (cautious US bank) but now I can’t sign up again because I’m blocked from making more than one order. Yet I have not paid for the first one..can’t find that place to resubmit payment. ta..
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Hi Kathryn, could you email us at help@katedaviesdesigns.com and we can assist?
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Like other commenters this club is made for me, as a huge KDD fan and lover of detective stories, especially Golden Age, and I am (re)discovering Margery Allingham right now. Have yet to read Hide My Eyes though. Thanks Kate for something so exciting to look forward to!
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This is right up my alley! Would we need one skein each of the 5 colors? I’m already thinking of palettes…
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yes, 5 x 100g grams (or less) of fingering weight. The precise yardage you’ll need for each shade, and information about how to go about picking a palette is listed in the club welcome pack (which you’ll have received as a PDF download after signing up)
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Oh, a good article about the significance of 1929 for detective/mystery fiction appeared in The Times on Saturday. Also referenced an exhibition in Cambridge, link below
Murder by the Book: A Celebration of 20th Century British Crime Fiction at Cambridge University Library runs until August 24, lib.cam.ac.uk/murderbythebook
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Fabulous concept, I needed no persuasion. Inherited my love of classic mysteries from my mother – along with her collection of hundreds of old titles. Margery Allingham was her favourite, I wish she were still here to share the journey. I’m really looking forward to this.
JennyS
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Holy cannoli, Batman! What a wonderful adventure! Yes please and thank you! My very most favourite mystery author is Dorothy Sayers, but I haven’t read widely in this genre outside her work, so I’ll be happy to discover someone new.
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I’ve been a fan of Margery Allingham (and Albert Campion) for many years and this club sounds like fun!! One question-are the garment patterns size inclusive? Very important for me
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I don’t think Marge herself would be very happy with me if they weren’t!
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I just signed up — what a FUN idea. I have yarn for several years worth of knitting projects, and a busy summer ahead, but I couldn’t resist. Next to reschedule my Sunday afternoon to scrounge through the old mysteries in the basement, looking for the Allinghams. You just made my day! Thank you.
Also will be joining Liz (above) in seeking out the old Peter Davidson Albert Campion shows.
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The TV series was huge fun, wasn’t it and I remember that the costumes were beautiful
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I’ve signed up as soon as I got the e-mail. This club sounds to exciting: vintage style patterns for the summer, murder mysteries and a book club, my goodness… Thank you Kate for this wonderful club idea. I’m already rummaging through my stash to find colours for the MKAL. This will be a first for me, as well as reading Margery Allingham, whom I’d never heard of before. Looking forward to a great start.
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I’ve signed up as soon as I got the e-mail. I’m so thrilled (pun intended): knitting and reading, murder mysteries to top it all… What’s not to love. I can’t wait to get started. I’ve never heard of Margery Allingham though, I’m really looking forward to discover a new (to me) mystery novels author. And also looking forward to vintage style patterns for the summer. Thank you Kate for a fantastic club idea.
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I can’t wait for the club to begin. I love Margery Allingham! I first read these wonderful books in graduate school and have returned to them several times since. Those who haven’t read them are in for a treat. And I’m sure the Art Deco inspired patterns will be grand. I signed up immediately yesterday!
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I discovered Margery Allingham’s writing fairly recently, recommended by my daughter. We live in East Anglia, so I’m up for this – even though I have a pile of projects waiting to be knitted!
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Bonjour, Je ne connais pas Margery Allingham et j’aurais aimé savoir si les titres proposés sont trduits en français (je lis TRES lentement l’anglais). Merci de votre rpéonse. Karine
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j’ai remarqué plusieurs traductions (portugais, espagnol, et français) quand je cherchais ces livres, mais je ne sais pas si on les a traduit tous. (Il y a trente ans que je ne parle pas le français — j’espère que j’ai écrit plus ou moins clairement)
https://www.lireka.com/fr/recherche?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiMmwBhDmARIsABeQ7xT70f7ZP7ZsEpV8wncpWQ5CA5BrGfkOAYtHl18QrjI50QmIRThWfIwaAtJeEALw_wcB&query=Allingham
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Very excited about this. I first binge read Margery Allingham about 40 years ago and loved them. I tried again about 15 years ago and didn’t get on so well, so it will be interesting to revisit them. Tom’s film and photos are stunning and bring life to the landscape and atmosphere conjured up so vividly by MA. I can’t wait (now I need to dig out the dvds with Peter Davidson and the magnificent Brian Glover as Lugg)
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Bonjour, Je ne connais pas Margery Allingham et j’aimerais savoir si les titres proposés sont traduits en français (je lis TRES lentement l’anglais). Merci de votre réponse. Karine
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I’ve signed up and managed to find all the books titles “used” so all set for start up
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it will be a winter of mystery in this part of the world (New Zealand) but I can’t resist having a reason to re-read one of my favourite authors. I think I have copies of all of the reading list – some very old and tatty by now. Such fun and new patterns to play with as well!
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